The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1887-10-18

he be able to override their vicious
inclinations and restrain them from
the influence of bad example. Their
consciences need enlightenment and
the help of a constant practical
training which true religion
alone can ensure.
Religion is not only necessary as
the basis of all moral teaching, but
it is also the most important branch
Of knowledge, the only science alb
solutely necessary, which all child
rem must be taught as soon as they
attain the use of reason.
What will human science, even
the most profound, avail q man If
he does not know for what end he is
created, or on what conditions and
by what means he can secure ever
lasting happinessY The answer to
these most important questions is
UNCONVENTIONAL religion.
Parents are responsible for the re-
ligious training Of their children.
But, as many parents have not the
time to attend to this sacred duty,
the children depend mostly on the
school and the clergy in this sacred
matter. Now, the Government col
lects the taxes, takes the children, to
a certain extent, out of the hands of
both parents and clergy, and does
not give in return the knowledge in
dispensably necessary, j. e., Reli-
gion. There is something wrong,
nay unjust In the prevailing system.
Catholic parents most certainly
have a right to complain when their
children are entrusted to anti-catho-
lie teachers whose individual views
and feelings must inevitably affect
their children's minds and hearts.
The danger lies, not so much in the
teaching of opposite doctrines, as in
the systematical absence of matters
which Catholics consider essential
parts of their religion, whilst to their
denominations they appear trifles or
superstitions. / think we have as
good right to have our belief re-
spected as others have their disbe-
lief. Let us be truly liberal.
There is certain class of persons
whose positive creed is rather short
but whose opposition to that of their
neighbors is at the same time very
strong. They are so negatively
jealous as sometimes to forget strict
honesty. Under the pretence of
supporting the exclusion of denomi-
national religious instruction in the
public schools, they try to smuggle
their own sectarlan notions (parti-
cularly the negative part thereof),
into the minds of Catholic children
"a rather easy task because it is
downhill work. They seem to aim
especially at the Portuguese child
rem to estrange them from the Cath
lie religion. BY material induce
ments and misrepresentation they
may at times succeed in making
these children look down upon their
Ignorant" parents and country
men, keep them in ignorance of the
Catholic doctrine and religious prac-
tees, and foment in them the spirit
of self-conceit and mental indepen-
dence. This may appear a great
triumph to those who consider "Ro-
manism" an evil equal to infidelity,
as the missionary Herald" has it.
But sensible people will ask:
Who is to be benefited by it? Are
Catholics, as class, less good and
law-abiding citizens than the rest of
the community? Let the Portuguese,
young and old, listen to the teaching
of their Catholic clergy, and they
will be faithful to their employers
or those that have any dealings with
them. There is no danger of their
becoming a "priest ridden'i people
to be used by their clergy for self
ish or political purposes. Turn them
away from the religion of their
fathers and you will soon discover
that you committed a great error.
As rule, the Portuguese will either
remain Catholic or become interest
ed hypocrites-if not practical inf
dels dangerous to society.n
Let me resume: Whereas child
rem have need and a right to be
trained in moral and religious prin-
ciples, and whereas our public
schools cannot properly accomplish
this task to the satisfaction of a con-
siderable portion of the community,
therefore our prevailing system is
defective. Consequently, the Board
of Education should rejoice because
it is assisted by the numerous indie
pendent UNCONVENTIONAL schools
chosen by the parents as so many
institutions cooperating with the
Government (not opposing it al
though competing with it) for the
same object-the education of youth.
And why should not these schools
have a pro rata share in the means
contributed by all?
l cannot expect that everybody
will accept my theory in all its de-
tails, but the practical conclusion
seems to be so well founded that
successive Legislative Assemblies
and Boards of Education have acted
at least to some extent, in conform
ity with the foregoing argument by
a deep source of justice and honesty.
| am happy to acknowledge this fact